When the Truth Was Born

Following the GPS directions, I raced to the hospital, but the receptionist at the clinic blocked my path.

"Who are you here to see?"

I spoke calmly, giving my wife's name.

"I'm here for Rebecca Harris. I'm her husband."

The receptionist gave me a suspicious look, then scoffed.

"You've got the wrong person! Miss Rebecca's husband is our hospital dean. He's in the room with their baby right now. And just so you know, we don't disclose other patients' private information."

I slammed my hand down on the counter, my voice rising as I said, "Cut the crap. If I say to check, you check. My dad's a major investor in this place; I'm practically the head. Don't I have that right? And as for a husband catching his wife cheating, that's his prerogative, so save your breath!"

The nurse gave me a look like I was out of my mind, then snorted.

"Mister, you must be dreaming! Our dean's got money and power, and he's not the type to have an affair. You, on the other hand, have either lost your mind, or..."

She did not get to finish. A commotion erupted from down the hall.

"Miss Rebecca is so lucky to have a husband like you. You're not just making her soup and taking care of her after the birth, but you're even carrying her to the bathroom. That's just so sweet."

"Yeah! And the way you mix the baby's formula and change diapers, it's rare to find a man as tender and attentive as you."

I shoved past the receptionist and bolted into the hallway, where a nurse was speaking with a look of pure envy.

"Even though Miss Rebecca can't have any more kids after this tough delivery, with a devoted husband like you and a healthy eight-pound son, she's set for a lifetime of happiness."

At those words, I felt a surge of anger.

I never imagined that my wife would bear another man's child, wrecking her health so badly she would never carry another, and I was the last to know.

I shoved past the onlookers. There he was, cradling the baby.

Seeing his face, I was rooted to the spot, my voice barely a whisper as I said, "Marvin?"

It was Rebecca's brother-in-law, Marvin Hughes. His wife, Rebecca's sister, had passed away young, and he had stayed single, honoring her memory.

He had kept up with the Harris family out of respect for his late wife, and Rebecca's folks had practically adopted him.

However, he had a child with his sister-in-law, Rebecca. From a nobody, he had climbed to the top, running that hospital. It did not take a genius to figure out who had pulled the strings.

I was blindsided. I had put Rebecca on a pedestal, secretly funneled investments from my family and my dad into the Harris Group, and busted my hump overseas for their deals.

For what? Rebecca cheated on me and handed everything I had worked for to Marvin.

Marvin's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw me.

"Daniel, you... What are you doing back? Aren't you locked in some deal abroad for another year?"